King Alfred Memorial

On a hill overlooking Swanage sits a rather modest stone monument to King Alfred the Great - less grand than you might expect for a Saxon king, but there's something honest about that. Built in 1887, it marks the spot where Alfred allegedly rallied his forces before the decisive Battle of Edington in 878, a moment that essentially saved Anglo-Saxon England from Viking conquest. Worth knowing the history before you visit, because the monument itself won't tell you much.

The real draw is the walk up to it and the views across Dorset's Jurassic Coast once you're there. On a clear day you can see right across to the Isle of Wight. The site sits about a mile south of Swanage town, up a moderate climb through farmland - bring proper shoes because it gets muddy. Allow 45 minutes for the round trip from town, maybe longer if you're stopping to read the plaques.

History enthusiasts will get the most from this. Kids might find the walk tedious unless they're keen on Saxon history - there's no visitor centre, no café, just the monument and a bench. It's the kind of place you visit as part of a wider Dorset circuit rather than a destination in itself.

If you're based at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park or Ulwell Holiday Park, both within walking distance, this makes a decent morning walk before heading to the beaches. Free to visit, open year-round. Go early in the day to avoid the midday crowds, though honestly crowds here are unlikely.